Best Bluetooth Audio Receiver Reviews

1. The Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver is not available in my country, is it that much better that the Auris BluMe music receiver? thanks.

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2. Haven’t read through all comments, but I hardly ever see anything about using 2 units for the convenience of wireless connection to a speaker, such as in a DJ setup. In such scenarios, Low Latency is critical. I have tried a few hybrid brands and they are all difficult to force Low Latency mode. Even though they will pair fairly easily with each other, Low Latency mode is elusive.

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3. Hi I help n suggestions from u guys , I have a fiio btr5 bluetooth amplifer , it works great for my iem , my usage setup are phone pair to fiio btr5 amplifer n my iem wired connect to btr5 it’s working awesome , but I have a piece of wireless tws earbud which I would like to pair it up wit my fiio btr5 but that definitely need a bluetooth audio receiver in order to connect , is the any recommendation for me in this top 10 list as I want the audio quality good not affecting the volume level n has good connection, I have try a few cheap to average one but non satisfy me

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4. My home stereo has Bluetooth but It’s OLd like Bluetooth 2.0 or something, It never worked well enough to make good use of it. The sound system itself is great though, so I bought a new Bluetooth audio receiver with Bluetooth 5.0 and hooked it up, it works a dream with my Galaxy S10 – thanks for the suggestions, I went with the BlueDento 🙂

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   • Hi Martin, I’m pleased my list helped you out, the bludento is a really great bluetooth audio receiver for the money, you choose wisely! have a great day, and thanks for commenting.

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5. Congrats for the review! Just quick note, apple iphones doesnt support aptx

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6. BluDento is better specs and value than AudioEngine B1

   1) DAC is Burr Brown that is much warmer and better than the AudioEngine DAC AKM4396
   2) identical build quality / antenna etc – in fact they both look identical [almost]
   3) optical out as an option [which does not exist in AudioEngine]

   Available at $70 direct from the manufacturer with free shipping worldwide. So almost 1/3rd in the price. With today’s fast pace change of technology / specs – this is a better deal.

   my rest of the audio gear is over $100,000 and this purchase was just for fun to bring back some life into a vintage amp from early 1990s, and this lovely little product just did that!!!

   highly recommended!!

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   • errata: 3) Coaxial out [not optical out] as an option [which does not exist in AudioEngine]

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7. I think an important feature is missing from this article’s specs of recommended devices: Does each device support dual paring or not.

   Audioengine B1 says it does, BluDento‘s does not according to BluDento‘s Amazon listing.

   I think EarStudio ES100 should be added to this post, along with Visoud Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver.

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8. The Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver has a build quality that’s leagues above the others

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   • I endorse both Audioengine b1 and bluetooth 5. The b1 is the third BT receiver including one with upgraded tubes and my upscale rig is HiFi again.

     In fact, my entire purpose was to stream hi res from Tidal using my old Nexus 7. Out of all my many tablets it sounded better then even the Galaxy Tab S2.

     I am not sure that makes sense since bluetooth simply passes along a data stream. I think. I still THOUGHT I heard a difference.

     Just yesterday bought my first tablet with BT 5 and think it sounds noticeably more detailed! I did not buy it for that reason but do I ever feel justified now.

     It’s a non-USA spec Samsung Galaxy Tab A (with S-pen styus). This is entirely different then the inexpensive Tab A sold in US. It has very high res screen and an octacore processor like Tab S2.

     And man is the streaming good. Tidal roughly matches my SACD player as source but offers many “master” recordings for it’s $20 per month. Worth every penny!

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9. The Audioengine B1 is undoubtedly an excellent piece of kit. Before you buy one based on this review you need to be aware that if you intend to use it with an iPhone or iPad then you will only get SBC quality sound which is also the poorest. This is because the B1 cannot decode AAC and Apple iPads/iPhones do not support APT-X. If you’re into Apple handhelds then I would recommend the Auris BluMe which supports AAC and APT-X, has the same AK4396 dac and the same range. I hope this is of some help.

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   • Thanks, I have learned a lot from your comment. It made me do some research, I was wondering why the it sounded different when I was using my iphone or an androit.
     Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

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   • The Audioengine B1 has been updated and now include the AAC codecs as well as the latest Bluetooth 5.0 – You can see the new specs on their website: https://audioengineusa.com/product_tech_specs/b1-bluetooth-music-receiver/

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     • Hi.

       I am looking for a Bluetooth receiver to hook up to my KRK Rokitt G6 speakers so I can use for wireless listening.

       Do you recommend the Audioengine B1 for this? I only want a bluetooth receiver to be able to stream audio from a mobile device to the speakers for casual listening.

       Thanks in advance for your help.

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10. What’s the range on the Arcam MiniBlink Bluetooth audio receiver? I doesn’t appear to have an antenna? thanks you

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11. Hi!

    Many thanks for this great review!

    I’m slightly confused that you say of the Arcam ” the actual audio performance is easily as good if not better” than your top-rated Audioengine, and it’s $40 cheaper. Do you have concerns about reliability, some other performance factor (usability, range, codecs, etc) or is your rating based on the beautiful case of the Audioengine?

    Speaking of usability, I’ve a question about all of these:

    I’ve encountered an adaptor (by Esinkin) that aggressively demands that it connect to my devices, rather than waiting. I’ve encountered a device (by Homespot) that will only stay connected while something is playing, and otherwise will disconnect and reconnect every so often. It seems that the Bose unit that can switch between multiple sources would be very nice if it works smoothly. Would you consider reporting on similar usability issues?

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12. should I get a Bluetooth audio receiver that just receives and doesn’t also transmit? I have seen a few that do both would this not best option?

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    • I’ve tested numerous Bluetooth receiver/transmitters over the last few years and there is definitely a better reliability on wireless music adapters that are specifically receivers or transmitters. If you’re only intending to use as an audio receiver, I recommend you look for one that’s not a hybrid.

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13. I’ve got a set of high-end speakers (B&W) and an old amp which was made before Bluetooth technology even existed I think! I’m looking for the best Bluetooth audio receiver possible, I’m guessing that the Audioengine B1, however, I’m wondering if I should look for a wireless audio adapter that has Qualcomm Low Latency apt-X codecs so that I can watch movies without experiencing lag between the audio and video?

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14. I have a Behringer sound system, i try to use the Bluetooth receiver to connect to my iPad to sent the song. What kind of Bluetooth receiver you can recommend & good sound too. Thank you

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15. Simon, many thanks for the review, and for maintaining this comments page. There are two products from Philps that you omitted to include: AEA2000/12 and AEA2700/12. The main difference between the two seems to be that the more expensive AEA2700/12 has a low-latency aptX codec.

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16. I bought the Homespot NFC Bluetooth receiver its working better than I’d hoped, I have it plugged in to my old AV receiver and it sounds great!

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17. Hi, I treated myself the Audio Engine B1 Bluetooth audio receiver after sending back a TaoTronics music adapter. It’s more expensive but worth every penny, thanks for the recommendation!

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    • Hi Steven,
      The Audio Engine B1 is top quality, I totally agree. Sometimes is better to pay more once rather than pay less more frequently, if that makes sense. I was chatting with an old gentleman once, and he said “The price is forgotten long after the quality is remembered” of words to that effect 😉

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      • The expression is: “The bitterness of the low quality is remembered long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten”. Thanks for reminding me.

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        • Hi Paul, That’s the one! Thanks, I’ll look into the Philips Bluetooth receivers you mentioned. Have a great New Year, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.

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18. Any Bluetooth 5.0 compatible Bluetooth Audio receivers out yet? I heard the range and speeds waaaaay better than version 4? Thanks

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    • Not yet I’m afraid, As soon as they hit the market I’ll be sure to add them to the list, Thanks for commenting.

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19. Are there any wireless music receivers with bluetooth 5 technology? It’s supposed to boost the range by 4 times and it’s also twice as fast with 8 times more capacity seems like a huge upgrade and perfect for a bluetooth audio receiver

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20. Am I the stupid guy here…I don’t see any “Brightech” thing in the test…..and anyone is talking about it…
    My computer doesn’t show this device…

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    • Hi Jeroen, Sorry for the confusion, the Brightech Bluetooth Receiver is a US product, it’s not available in Europe. The article only displays products that are available to purchase in your location. here is a link to the US Amazon product page: Link

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21. I bought the Logitech item but after 11 months the left channel produces terrible distortion on bassy tracks. Makes my left Kef IQ5 speaker sound blown. Such a shame as prior to this the sound reproduction was quite good. You get what you pay for I suppose. I may invest more money athan a later date but for now I have resorted to a high quality cable connected to the laptop and or phone.

    Many thanks for the review. It gives me much more information for my next purchase.

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22. Thanks for the advice, I was looking for a wireless adapter for steaming audio while watching the television, didn’t realise I needed to look for one with low-latency. I don’t think my Bluetooth speaker has low latency though, does that matter?

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    • If your Bluetooth speaker has apt-X codecs that will help, but for the best possible audio-visual sync it’s better to have aptX low latency codecs or FastStream. I have many Bluetooth audio receivers without aptX LL that I’m able to use on the TV with barely any delay. If your Bluetooth speaker has an AUX port, you could always get a Low Latency Receiver and Transmitter to solve the problem. Here’s a link to a pre-paired set for the TV.

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23. I will try not to sound silly. I am using an iPad, mostly to read. Am I able to watch a music video from YouTube on hi def on my Sony Bravia with the audio thru a Samsung sound bar, like how I’m watching cable tv. Thanks in advance.

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    • Hi Julian, The easiest and cheapest way would be to get yourself a Google Chromecast, plug that into your TV, then you will see a cast button on your YouTube app.

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24. Does the Bose bluetooth music adaptor work with any stereo of is it just design for Bose? – Thanks

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    • Hi Nigel, Yes the Bose Bluetooth music receiver will work with all Hi-Fi and Stereo speaker systems with a 3.5 or RCA input. I think it’s the best Bluetooth hi-fi adapter for streaming multiple devices. It can remain paired with 3 at a time, so it’s great for sharing music choices with others.

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      • The bad part about the Bose that I just bought is that I want to play audio from 3 devices but after pairing your devices, once you connect to one device, you have to turn off the bluetooth for the next device to work. This defeats my need of 3 PCs, one playing Pandora while I work and the 2 work PCs may interrupt with a skype session of some other audio and that will not work with Bose. Someone needs to design a Multi-Bluetooth Connecting Audio Mixer.

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25. Hi, I was just curious if you have come across the Bt-Pro made by radial engineering. It does not appear to have aptx but i would suspect it would be of high quality (perhaps they have proprietary technology?) given the quality of other industry standard pro audio gear they build. How might you rate this product. Any thoughts would be super appreciated. Thanks!
    -Jake

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    • Hi Jake,

      The BT-Pro by Radial has a number of unique features designed to isolate and boost the audio into independent analogue signals. It has a 2 XLR outputs which can have further isolation transformers fitted to prevent unwanted noise. It’s really geared more towards PA systems than streaming music at home. With regards to the actual audio quality, it streams in 16-Bit via bluetooth 2.0 with SBC data compression. SBC was never indented to produce perfect audio fidelity, the codec is designed to use the least amount of processing power. CSR apt-X compression is superior in turns of quality. A high-end device like the BT-Pro will do a very decent job using the SBC codec, but I’d certainly favour apt-X over it. Here is a link to the BT-Pro Radial PDF manual, with full details on its features and spec. – Hope I’ve been of some help.

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26. great!

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27. Hi there. I have a quandary.
    I’m trying to use this is a stage professional capacity.
    I want to plug it into my Tbone 100t belt pack adapted. Where I normally plug my headphones.

    When on stage the wire gets tangled and the belt pack is too bulky during costumes Changes.
    So want to buy some Bluetooth in ear headphones and connect then to this. Then this to the receiver.

    The connection is a 3.8mm Jack. Stages vary but no bigger than 30 metres.

    Will it work and connect to Bluetooth headphones. And if yes. Which one without breaking the bank please.

    Thank you

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28. Great, useful article. But it’s taken some unraveling to work out a good transmit and receiver pair for playing a digital piano over BT to the hifi amp! Suggestions to improve the article, if I may:

    A) Your article implies that the only low latency device covered is the Avantree Priva II, but the Sony BM10 is low latency too. What about the others in the main part of the review? Low latency is important!

    B) checking out the 1* reviews on Amazon shows that the Neet and Avantree products tend to drop out too easily, whereas other units are stable. This would be really useful info up front in your article too, as some of the disappointed Amazon buyers appear to have made their choices based on your article.

    C) The link to the csr database shows the LL device “Aukey Portable Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter”, but Aukey neither show this on their website, nor offer any support docs for it. On the other hand this product is clearly rebadged and sold under various other brands at low prices, such as Layen Audio Research UK. It gets very few bad Amazon ratings for failures of the device, but it would be great if you could review its audio quality??

    Many thanks again for the work you’ve put in.

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    • Hi George,

      Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment,

      A) The bluetooth receivers on this list that also feature apt-x low latency are the Arcam Miniblink and the Auris BLueMe (not currently in the UK) . I also have a product here by Creative called the BT-W2 to review, which is also supports aptX low latency. The SONY BM10 is also listed on their site, but unfortunately I have found it very difficult to source a vendor for this particular receiver in recent months. CSR’s website has a list of compatible devices – link There are other low latency devices that don’t appear on their site. I reviewed a Transmitter by iClever that has low latency. They have two listed called the Coredy BT01 and one by Aukey – these I’m guessing are the same device with a different brand name.

      B) With regards to drop outs, it’s a difficult subject as it’s often due to the external factors. Bluetooth signals can sometimes be disrupted by other nearby devices especially if they are on similar bandwidths. Other things such as microwave ovens, power lines, WiFi routers or even Coax connections on some Satellites dishes can effect the signal. The more expensive devices tend to offer better shielding from interference, however I have had very little issues with drop-outs even with less costly products. I’ll try and introduce some potential external variables into future reviews to see if I can replicate these problems.

      C) I will look into the Layen device and see if I can get a unit for testing, thanks for the head up.

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29. Hi Simon,
    There are lots of complaints (Amazon reviews) about the Logitech unit related to transmission. I am thinking of getting the Bose, but does it work with any speaker systems? Or is it designed to work with Bose speakers only. Thanks.
    PW

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    • Hi,
      The Bose bluetooth receiver will work with any speaker system that has an RCA, Optical or 3.5mm AUX input, which pretty much covers all the bases – hope that helps

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30. Hi Simon,
    Thanks for the great info. I recently bought the Logitech Bluetooth Adapter and hooked it up to an older Yamaha receiver. I stream music from an iPad or a Windows laptop. It mostly works great, and the sound quality is fine, but I’m getting intermittent breakups where the music stutters or stops for a few seconds, then resumes normally. It can go several minutes with no problems, then fail every minute or so. I suspect some form of interference is the problem, but I’m not having any luck in my research so far. Any ideas?
    Thanks,

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    • Hi Tim,

      Thanks for leaving a comment, sorry to hear you are having drop-outs, This page may help – Stop Bluetooth Interference

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31. Thanks for the list, there’s so many Bluetooth receivers to choose from, I have an old Bose non-wireless speaker dock, so I opted for the Bose music adapter, could have picked a cheaper one I guess, but I’m a little OCD about matching brands.

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    • Hi Leo, thanks for the comment, The Bose Bluetooth music adapter may be a little more expensive than some of the lesser known brands of Bluetooth audio receiver, however,it does allow you to have 3 active connections at any one time. This is a great feature if you share your music playlist with others and worth paying a little extra for.

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32. My phones pretty old, when was the apt-x introduced? Not sure if it’s worth paying the extra for a Bluetooth music receiver with the aptx codecs if I can’t make use of them?

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33. Hi Simon,, great reviews, i just bought the audioengine. I love the sound, build and.optical connection but am beyond distraction with having to connect and unconnect my devices (i use three) any suggestions of a device that has the sound quality and nfc and multiple device connection?
    Thanks
    Marcus

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    • Hi Marcus, Most bluetooth receivers that offer simultaneous connection usually only give 2 at a time. If having 3 devices at once is important, there is a bluetooth adapter by Grace Digital called the 3play that does as the name suggests. Unfortunately it doesn’t have NFC pairing and the range is not overly impressive. It does have apt-X, but I’m afraid it won’t compare to the AudioEngine bluetooth receiver with it’s RCA / 3.5mm connection. here is the product link

      I will keep my eye out for a better option for you.

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34. It makes perfect sense to buy the best Bluetooth audio receiver If you already own a good home stereo system, rather than buying a top end Bluetooth speaker. For one reason, Bluetooth speakers are typically a single unit so they will always struggle to spread the sound like a typical set of hi-if speakers. I also like to occasionally use my CD’s and even occasional records from my collection, when I’m feeling a little nostalgic. I’m sure a modern hi-fi has a built-in Bluetooth audio receiver for music streaming, but as you have pointed out, the technology is always improving. Having an independent Bluetooth hi-fi adapter that can be upgraded seems like the way to go.

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35. if I buy a Bluetooth receiver with apt-x and my mobile doesn’t stream audio with apt-x, just a regular Bluetooth signal, does that make it redundant, should I just buy a wireless music adapter without the CSR apt-X codecs?

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    • Well, you do need both the Bluetooth receiver and the device you are streaming from to have apt-x, however, it’s still worth choosing a music receiver with the technology if you can. I’m sure in the future when you change your phone or tablet it would be wise to already have the codecs present on your Bluetooth audio receiver.

      Here is a list of all the phones that have apt-X already (there are loads) maybe your phone is on there? – apt-x compatible phones

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36. I’m looking for a good Bluetooth music adapter to use in my car, these all look like they require a power supply. Any suggestions? Thanks

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    • Hi Baz, I am planning on building a list of good quality in-car Bluetooth adapters, none of the Bluetooth audio receivers listed above would be suitable unless you powered them with a portable power bank, which is not ideal. Assuming you have an AUX in on your car stereo, you can get a small rechargeable Bluetooth music receiver like this one

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37. What’s the best Bluetooth receiver for a TV? I want the minimum amount of lag, so the streamed audio synch’s well with the picture? Thanks

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    • Hi Chris,

      There are several factors that effect the amount of lag you will get from streaming your audio from a TV. Firstly the distance that your speakers or headphones are from the TV will have an effect. Secondly the type of bluetooth streaming method that you are using. apt-X is way faster than regular bluetooth streaming (SBC) however, there is an even better option which is Apt-X low latency streaming. In order for this to work, you would need an aptX low latency Transceiver and also either an aptX low latency receiver or compatible speakers / headphones.

      If you are in the UK, check out this link or click here if you are in the US. It’s a link to the Avantree apt-X low latency pre-paired bluetooth transmitter and receiver, ideal for streaming from a Television with barely any noticeable audio delay.

      To see a list of all devices capable of streaming with apt-X low latency check out this page on aptX.com

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38. Thanks for the list, splashed out on the Audioengine Bluetooth receiver, connected it to my HiFi stereo and it sounds pimp 🙂

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    • Hi Felix, glad it helped

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39. Are there any bluetooth audio adapters which can pair to each other and split the left and right signals from the source (host)- smartphone? Similar to how the UE boom bluetooth speakers can double up and provide separate left and righ channels. Thinking about building my own bluetooth speaker pair, each with own amp and adapter, but would like one to be left channel and other to be right channel.

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    • Wow, nice question JC, I did some research and there are a ton of bluetooth splitters out there, but they all seem to basically send both channels to each device. Finding a bluetooth device that separates the left and right channels was surprisingly tough. I did come across this: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/26/vertus-bluetooth-stereo-streaming/ It’s a product called Vertus, but after further digging, it would appear the Kickstarter died a death and a lot of people lost their money – Kickstarter Page

      I’d be amazed if there isn’t a device out there somewhere, like Vertus that did actually get off the ground. If you have a Reddit account, it might be worth asking there, I might even ask myself actually – I’ll keep you posted.

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40. Thanks for the list. got the Brightech Bluetooth audio receiver, it’s exactly what I needed!

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    • Hi Chris, your welcome! The brightech bluetooth music receiver is a great little receiver and the charging port is handy too.

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41. Some good bluetooth music receivers here, but you should really have some sort of comparison chart detailing the key features. It would be much easier that way.

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    • Hi Max, Thank you for your feedback. As the list of the best bluetooth audio receivers has gradually grown in size, I think you are right, it does need to be organised better. I’ll work on producing a features list for each music receiver and improve the page layout.

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    • Hi Max,
      I’ve finally got around to improving the post, I’ve added some key features and updated prices. I guess you have long since bought your Bluetooth music receiver, but hopefully, it will help others who are looking to update their home stereo equipment with wireless streaming.

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42. I bought the Brightech Bluetooth audio receiver and couldn’t be more happy, the audio quality is ace and it’s got a handy USB charging port which is really handy for topping up my phone charge. The range isn’t huge, but it’s more than I need for my apartment. It comes with 3 years warranty as well, which not many other bluetooth music adapters seem to have.

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    • Hi James,
      Thanks for your comment. Good choice, I think the Brightech bluetooth receiver is currently the most popular music receiver in the US (on Amazon at least) It’s great value for money and perfect for mid-range home stereo systems.

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43. Thanks for the list, there were so many Bluetooth audio adapters to choose from. I didn’t want to spend much, but wanted the aptX so I bought the Neet bluetooth receiver, very happy with it!

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    • You’re welcome Alex, happy bluetooth streaming 😉

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44. As much as I’d like to get the Audioengine B1 bluetooth music receiver I think the price is a little extreme, it looks like the only one that has a digital audio output though which would be nice to use.

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    • Hi Craig,

      Thanks for your comment, there is a cheaper bluetooth receiver with DAC output, by a company called NEET although it’s currently only available in the UK – Here is a link

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45. All of the Bluetooth music receiver reviews I’ve read seem to make a pretty big deal about the benefits of the aptX codecs. I know both Bower & Wilkins and Bang and Olufsen both refused to put out Bluetooth connected devices before aptX codecs became popular as the audio quality of Bluetooth streaming without it was unacceptable in their eyes. I guess it depends on how fussy you are and what environment you plan on using the Bluetooth receiver. If you have a cheap pair of headphones or speakers I wouldn’t worry too much about buying the best Bluetooth music receiver, but if you plan to stream to a really nice pair, personally I’d spend a little extra and get a better one.

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    • Hi Dazza,

      Many thanks for your comment, I totally agree, the apt-X codecs does make a big difference. If you have a high-spec sound system, then it’s definitely worth paying a little extra for a bluetooth audio receiver with apt-X technology.

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46. I got the HomeSpot bluetooth receiver, the pairing was rapid and it sounds perfectly good to me. I’ve not streamed with ap-tX before, but I’m guessing the audio quality can’t be that much of a difference unless you have really high end speaker system.

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47. I have the Sony BM10, its ace but there is no way its got 100m range, maybe totally unobstructed, but it’s more like 50m which is still far more than most people would ever need

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    • I was going to get a Sony BM10, I liked the idea of the extended range, unfortunately it appears they have a supply issue. I paid the extra and got the AudioEngine B1 bluetooth receiver instead, It’s absolutely faultless!!

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      • Hi Peter, you made a wise choice, the Audioengine B1 is the best Bluetooth music receiver money can buy. It’s really worth paying extra for if you’ve got a good home stereo system.

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